IU will release her third remake album ‘Flower Bookmark Three’ on the 27th. This album is an extension of the remake series following ‘Flower Bookmark’ in 2014 and ‘Flower Bookmark Two’ in 2017, where she reinterprets beloved Korean classic songs with a modern sensibility. On the 21st, her agency, EDAM Entertainment, released an emotional video along with the tracklist through official SNS. ‘Flower Bookmark Three’ includes a total of 6 songs. The title track ‘Never Ending Story’ is a remake of a classic by Boohwal, with Seo Dong-hwa arranging to add a majestic atmosphere to the original narratIVE. Other songs like Seo Taiji’s ‘October 4th’, Shin Joong-hyun’s ‘Beautiful Woman’, Park Hye-kyung’s ‘Red Sneakers’, Roller Coaster’s ‘Last Scene’, and White’s ‘Square Dream’ are also reborn with IU’s voice. This album showcases originality not only in music but also in concept and marketing. The tracklist video stimulates analog emotions by utilizing retro computers and vintage design elements. Icons like hourglasses, loading sounds, and old fonts evoke the computer environment of the 1990s to 2000s, harmonizing with the overall sentiment of the album. An ARS event for album promotion also drew attention. By calling the number 1660-0527, participants can experience a unique interaction where it feels like they are having a conversation with IU and can choose to listen to some of the songs. The event recorded high participation rates, with 15,000 calls within the first hour of opening and 100,000 calls within 12 hours. ‘Flower Bookmark Three’ goes beyond simple remakes, establishing itself as an emotional project that connects the past and present. The musical value of the original songs combined with IU’s delicate interpretation is expected to broaden the musical empathy across generations. As the official release on the 27th approaches, there is anticipation for the kind of emotions this album will convey to the listeners.
